Efficiently and Easily Opening and Closing a Canister Valve

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a canister connection apparatus designed to efficiently and easily connect a pressurized canister to an external system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/792,889, entitled “Efficiently and EasilyOpening and Closing a Canister Valve” and filed on Mar. 15, 2013.

BACKGROUND

CO₂ gas may leak from a CO₂ canister when connecting the canister to anexternal system. This leakage reduces the amount of useful CO₂. Thepresent disclosure addresses this issue and discloses a more convenientand simple connection mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the presentinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a canister connection apparatus,

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the canister connectionapparatus,

FIG. 3 illustrates another cross-sectional view of the canisterconnection apparatus,

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a system including a canisterconnection apparatus,

FIGS. 5 a-5 b illustrate three dimensional views of the canisterconnection apparatus,

FIGS. 6 a-6 b illustrate a front view and a back view of the canisterconnection apparatus,

FIGS. 7 a-7 b illustrate side views of the canister connectionapparatus,

FIGS. 8 a-8 b illustrate different views of a door of the canisterconnection apparatus, and

FIGS. 9 a-9 b illustrate three dimensional views of canister connectionapparatus components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawingsand the following description to refer to the same or similar elements.While embodiments of the invention may be described, modifications,adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example,substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elementsillustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may bemodified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosedmethods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limitthe invention. Instead, the proper scope of the invention is defined bythe appended claims.

Embodiments of the invention may provide a canister connection apparatusdesigned to efficiently and easily connect a pressurized canister to anexternal system. FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a canisterconnection apparatus 100. Apparatus 100 may receive a pressurizedcanister 110 in a housing 105. Housing 105 may be used to connectcanister 110 to an external system. Canister 110 may be, but is notlimited to, for example, a CO₂ canister.

The external system may be, but is not limited to, for example, abeverage dispensing system. Though FIG. 1 shows apparatus 100 to includea canister 110, a canister need not be included as part of apparatus100. Rather, apparatus 100 may comprise a nest 115 designed to interfacewith various types of canisters having various volumes. Moreover, theterm ‘apparatus’, as used herein, may include any combination ofcomponents or apparatuses.

Canister connection apparatus 100 may be designed to connect canister110 to the external system efficiently and easily while mitigating therisk of gas leakage. Apparatus 100 may achieve this solution by sealingand covering a canister fitment 120 with a receiver fitment 125.Consistent with embodiments of the invention, apparatus 100 may comprisea movement mechanism 125 that may cause receiver fitment 125 to slideover canister fitment 120 as door 130 is lowered. In other embodiments,apparatus 100 may comprise a mechanism that inserts canister 110, alongwith canister fitment 120, into receiver fitment 125.

Generally stated, the lowering of door 130 may serve at least twopurposes. First, it may cause receiver fitment 125 to connect withcanister fitment 120 and open a canister valve to enable gas flow.Second, it may serve to protect a handler of canister 110 from any leaksthat may occur during the connection process by shielding the canistervalve from the handler.

As receiver fitment 125 connects with canister fitment 120, a valveopening component of receiver fitment 125 may open the canister valve,thereby allowing gas to flow from canister 110 into apparatus 100 (i.e.charging the apparatus). The charged apparatus 100 may then be connectedto (or, in various embodiments, may already be connected to) an externalsystem via, for example, a port in housing 105 and feed the externalsystem with the gas contained in canister 110.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of canister connectionapparatus 100. A user of canister connection apparatus 100 may firstinsert canister 110 into canister housing 105. Though hosing 105 is notshow in FIG. 2, it is illustrated in FIG. 3. Canister housing 105 may beequipped with a canister nest 115 designed to secure canister 110 withincanister housing 105. As mentioned above, nest 115 may be designed toreceive and secure canisters of various types and sizes within canisterhousing 105. In various embodiments, the nest 115 may include a landingor other cutout designed to engage with a flange or other correspondingfeature on the canister fitment 120 so as to secure the canister in thehousing 105 and align the canister fitment 120 with the receiver fitment125.

The user may then close door 130 of the apparatus 100 about an angle205. As door 130 is closed, an over-center movement mechanism 135 causesreceiver fitment 125 to slide about an axis 210 and cover canisterfitment 120. For example, the over-center movement mechanism 135 mayengage with a cam on the door 130. As the door 130 is moved, theover-center movement mechanism 135 may travel along the cam in such away as to cause motion about axis 210. The axis 210 may be a verticalaxis and/or may be parallel to an axis of a fluid flow pathway betweenthe canister 110 and the receiver fitment 125. In various embodiments, adifferent sliding mechanism may be employed to cause canister 100 to beinserted into receiver fitment 125 as door 130 is closed. Additionally,receiver fitment 125 may be designed to clamp over canister fitment 120once it is connected to canister fitment 120 so as to further securecanister 110. For example, a lower most portion of the receiver fitment125 may be pushed onto the top surface of the flange on the canisterfitment 120.

As receiver fitment 125 connects with canister fitment 120, an o-ring ofcanister fitment 120 seals the connection. In various embodiments of theinvention, a valve opening component of receiver fitment 125 may forceopen a valve of canister 110 upon its connection to canister fitment120. The opening of the valve may allow gas to flow from canister 110 tocanister connection apparatus 100. In various embodiments, the o-ring ofthe canister fitment 120 seals the connection prior to the valve openingcomponent of the receiver fitment 125 opening the valve of canister 110.In various embodiments, canister connection apparatus 100 may bedesigned so that the opening of canister valve occurs when door 130 hasalready been substantially closed.

The connection between receiver fitment 125 and canister fitment 120effectively shield the user from accidental gas discharge in case of adefective o-ring or other anomaly. Moreover, since the canister valvemay be opened only as door 130 is lowered, door 130 may also serve asshield protecting the user from accidental gas discharge.

As door 130 is opened about angle 205, receiver fitment 125 may bedisconnected from canister fitment 120 in a similar way that it wasconnected to canister fitment 120 (e.g., about axis 210). In variousother embodiments, canister fitment 120 may be disconnected fromreceiver fitment 125 in a similar way that it was connected to receiverfitment 125. The disconnection between receiver fitment 125 and canisterfitment 120 may shut the canister valve, thereby stopping the gas flow.In this way, the user may be shielded from the potential gas dischargefrom disconnecting canister 110 from apparatus 100 in a similar way inwhich the user was shielded when connecting canister 110. In variousembodiments, the o-ring of the canister fitment 120 seals the connectionuntil after the valve opening component of the receiver fitment 125disengages with the valve of canister 110 and allows the valve of thecanister 110 to close.

Consistent with embodiments of the invention, canister connectionapparatus 100 may comprise a locking mechanism. For example, door 130may be latched to housing 105 when closed. The latch may comprise, butis not limited to, for example, an electrical solenoid. The opening ofdoor 130 may be, for example, password protected. Any suitable lockingmechanism may be used.

FIG. 4 illustrates a system comprising canister connection apparatus100. The system may comprise a beverage dispenser 400 and includes auser interface 402, a push to pour button 404, a carbonator 406, and anozzle 408. Syrups may be stored in a plurality of syrup cartridges(e.g., a first syrup cartridge 410, a second syrup cartridge 412, athird syrup cartridge 414, and a fourth syrup cartridge 416). Flavorsmay be stored in a plurality of flavor cartridges (e.g., a first flavorcartridge 118, a second flavor cartridge 420, a third flavor cartridge422, a fourth flavor cartridge 424). The plurality of syrup cartridgesand the plurality of flavor cartridges are connected to the nozzle 408.

During operation, a user may select a beverage using the user interface402. When the user presses the push to pour button 404, carbonated waterflows from the carbonator 406 to the nozzle 408 and the appropriatesyrups and/or flavors flow from the plurality of syrup cartridges and/orthe plurality of flavor cartridges. In a post mix beverage dispenserthe, the syrups, flavors, and carbonated water mix about the nozzle 408.For example, if a user selects a cherry flavored cola, carbonated waterwill flow from the carbonator 406 to the nozzle 408. The cola syrup andcherry flavoring will flow from the appropriate cartridges to the nozzle408. The ingredients will then flow through the nozzle 408 and may airmix within the exiting fluid stream and a cup 426.

The carbonated water is formed within the carbonator 406. To form thecarbonated water, CO₂ flows from a carbon dioxide source (e.g., canisterconnection apparatus 100) to the carbonator 406. Still water may flowinto the carbonator 406 from an external source 430. The cooperation ofthe beverage dispenser may be controlled by a control module 432. Thecontrol module 432 may also monitor a backpressure, via a pressuresensor 434, within the plumbing between the carbonator 406 and thenozzle 408.

FIG. 5 a is a first three dimensional view of canister connectionapparatus 100. FIG. 5 b is a second three dimensional view of canisterconnection apparatus 100. FIG. 6 a is a front view of canisterconnection apparatus 100. FIG. 6 b is a back view of canister connectionapparatus 100. FIG. 7 a is a first side view of canister connectionapparatus 100. FIG. 7 b is a second side view of canister connectionapparatus 100. FIG. 8 a is a front view door 130. FIG. 8 b is a backview door 130. FIGS. 9 a-9B are three dimensional view of canister 110,nest 115, canister fitment 120, receiver fitment 125, and movementmechanism 135.

We claim:
 1. A method comprising: receiving a canister in a canisterconnection housing, the canister comprising a canister fitment and acanister valve, the housing comprising a receiver fitment and a door;and lowering the receiver fitment of the housing over the canisterfitment, the lowering of the receiver fitment being caused by a closingof the housing door.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving thecanister in the housing comprises receiving the canister into a nest ofthe housing for securing the canister within the housing.
 3. The methodof claim 2, wherein securing the canister within the housing comprisessecuring the canister within the housing in such a way that the loweringof the receiver fitment aligns to connect with the canister fitment upona closing of the housing door.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theclosing of the housing door causes the lowering of the receiver fitmentby way of an over-center movement mechanism configured to slide thereceiver fitment over the canister fitment.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein lowering the receiver fitment of the housing over the canisterfitment comprises connecting the receiver fitment with the canisterfitment.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein connecting the receiverfitment with the canister fitment comprises causing the canister valveto open.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising raising thereceiver fitment, the raising of the receiver fitment being caused by anopening of the housing door.
 8. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising disconnecting the receiver fitment from the canister fitment,wherein disconnecting the receiver fitment from the canister fitment iscaused by an opening of the housing door.
 9. The method of claim 6,further comprising closing the canister valve, wherein closing thecanister valve comprises disconnecting the receiver fitment from thecanister fitment, wherein disconnecting the receiver fitment from thecanister fitment is caused by an opening of the housing door.